Unveiling Sunghoon Kim's Award-Winning Book Design: Josef Koudelka Gypsies

Infusing Korean Aesthetics into a Global Photographic Journey

Josef Koudelka, a world-renowned photographer, has held his photo exhibitions in many countries around the world. After a long wait, a gypsy-themed Kudelka exhibition was finally held in Korea, and his photo book was made. As it was the first exhibition in Korea, there was a request from the author that he wanted to make a book so that he could feel Korea.

Sunghoon Kim, inspired by Hangeul and Hanok, Korean letters and architecture respectively, took on the challenge of designing a book that would express Korea's unique characteristics. Hangeul was actively applied to the cover while Hanok was incorporated into the book's design. The choice of materials was crucial in creating a book that could express Korea's feelings.

The windows of Korean traditional houses, made of paper rather than glass, beautifully reflect lights at night. To capture this essence, Kim used a paper similar to Changhoji, traditional Korean paper for doors, to express a sense of impression. The bookbinding was done using gauze, and the front and back cover of the book had a thick cloth attached to the board. Hot foil stamping was processed twice on the cover, spine, and back cover.

The design project, which began in Seoul, South Korea in March of 2016, culminated in January 2017. The book has been on sale in South Korea since January 2017. The design process involved extensive research on how to make the design result feel like a specific area (country). Hints were found in Hangeul and Hanok, and the challenge was how to apply them.

Through the selection and expression technique of book cover and page, Kim was able to complete a design expressing a specific area (country). This unique approach to book design has earned Kim the Silver A' Design Award in 2020, a testament to his outstanding expertise and innovation.

The Josef Koudelka Gypsies book design serves as a testament to Sunghoon Kim's ability to infuse cultural aesthetics into a global narrative. It stands as a beacon of innovative design, blending traditional elements with contemporary design techniques.